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With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The final Environmental Impact Statement is complete for the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminal in Longview, but added regulations put its future in question.

The port would be the largest coal export terminal in North America, but it would also be an incredible opportunity for Northwest farmers shipping their goods to the Pacific Rim …

JOHN STUHLMILLER … “No question, because that’s another piece that’s been one of the, the main items that I always bring up because, export capacity is export capacity.”

Washington Farm Bureau CEO John Stuhlmiller says asking Millennium to mitigate, not for shipping the coal, but for the use of it at some foreign destination, is a huge overstep by the state …

JOHN STUHLMILLER … “And so, when you preclude a bulk export facility like this, that has the ability to move coal and other things, but also takes pressure off of other ports, right, that’s another key factor. That coal is going to move somewhere. Millennium or not Millennium, the product that Asia is asking for will move to Asia, one way or the other.”

Stuhlmiller says it could be a huge opportunity lost for Ag exports…

JOHN STUHLMILLER … “But, if we lose rail lines and port capacity within Washington as a result because you don’t expand that facility or keep a viable facility there at Longview, then you put pressure on the rest of the system to try and move product through, and we’ve already had those port slow-downs and issues like that that happen. So, the more ways to get to the Pacific Rim, the better.”

Stuhlmiller says in a state where one in four jobs is tied to trade, it sends the wrong message about our policies and infrastructure.